Door lock



March 1958 J. H. ROETHEL 2,825,595

DOOR LOCK 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 25, 1950 IN VEN TOR.

March 4, 1958 J. H. ROETHEL 2,825,595

DOOR LOCK Filed March 25, 1950 i 3 Sheets- Sheet 2 IN V EN TOR. Jiv 77&ez fz March 4, 1958 J. H. ROETHEL 2,825,595

DOOR LOCK Filed March 25. 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 IN V EN TOR. JZi/Z 6! Ta 65%6Z.

United States Patent DOOR LOCK John H. Roethel, Detroit, Mich., assignor to Roethel Engineering Corporation, Detroit, Mich., a corporation of Michigan Application March 25, 1950, Serial No. 151,839

11 Claims. (Cl. 292-289) This invention relates to latch mechanism for swinging doors, particularly the doors of automobile or other vehicle bodies, an object of the invention being to provide an improved door latch mechanism which is characterized by its simplicity and compactness in construction and which is relatively small in size, economical to manufacture, comparatively quiet in operation and cilicieut in use.

Another object of the invention is to provide an im proved door latch mechanism having a rotatable latch device controlled by means of a detent or the like together with inside and outside manually operable means for disengaging the detent from the latch device, the inside manually operable means being further operable for causing operation of the outside manually operable means to be restrained or blocked. More specifically an object of the invention is to incorporate as a part of the inside manually operable means an arm member which may be pivotally moved in one direction to disengage the detent or which may be pivotally moved in the pposite direction into a position to restrain or block detent disengaging movement of the outside release means.

A further object of this invention is to provide an improved door latch mechanism having a rotatable latch member, a pivoted detent or dog cooperable therewith, and shiftable detent release means mounted on a supporting plate or the like at the jamb edge of the door, the detent release means being operable from the outside of the door and being rendered inoperative to release or disengage the detent by means of a pivotally movable arm member mounted preferably on a flange extending angularly from the inner edge of the supporting plate, said arm member being movably preferably by an inner manually operable remote control means in one direction into blocking relation to the release means and being movable in the opposite direction out of blocking relation to the release means and into position to release or disengage the detent. In accordance with a further aspect of the invention the detent is capable of pivotal motion independently of the outer manually operable release means, and when so moved is adapted to pivotally move said arm member out of blocking relation to the outer manually operable release means and to restore said arm to its normal operative position with respect to the detent.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide an improved door latch mechanism having a rotatable latch device controlled by the means of a detent or the like together with inside and outside manually operable release means for disengaging the detent from the latch crevice, the latch mechanism being provided with improved manually operable means for causing operation of the outside manually operable release means to be restrained or blocked. More specifically an object of the invention is to incorporate in the lock structure a pivotally movable plural arm member, said plural arm member being movable by an outside manually operable -de vice, such, for example, as a key operated mechanism,

or by an inside manually operable device such, for an ample, as a remote control means operable in one direction to place one of the arms in blocking relation to the outer manually operable release means to render the same inoperative to release or disengage the detent. In accordance with a further aspect of the invention the detent is capable of pivotal movement independently of the outer manually operable means, and when so moved is adapted to pivotally move said plural arm member out of blocking relation to the outer manually operable release means and to restore the associated mechanism to normal positive position.

This application is a continuation-in-part of 'my application, Serial No. 102,833, filed July 2, 1949, now Patent No. 2,793,898, granted May 28, 1957.

Other objects of this invention will appear in the following description and appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming apart of the specification wherein like reference characters designate corresponding parts in the several views.

Fig. 1 is a sectional elevation taken substantially through lines 11 of Fig. 2 looking in the direction of the arrows and illustrating a door lock constructed in accordance With one embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 2 is a section taken substantially through lines 2-2 of Fig. 1 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 but showing the lock mechanism in latch locked position.

Fig. 4 is a view in part similar to the left portion of Fig. 2 illustrating a door lock constructed in accordance with a second embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 5 is a view in part similar to Fig. 2 illustrating a modification of the door lock particularly adapted for use on the rear doors or any doors of a vehicle not usually provided with a key cylinder lock actuating mechanism.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary elevational view illustrating the operative relationship of the wedge member and the rotary latch bolt carried on the front face of the latch mechanism support with the striker device carried on the body post or pillar.

Fig. 7 is a view in part similar to Fig. 2 illustrating a door lock constructed in accordance with a further embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 8 is a view in part similar to Fig. 1 illustrating a door lock constructed in accordance with another embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 9 is a section taken substantially through lines 9-9 of Fig. 8 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 10 is a view in part similar to Fig. 8 illustrating a modification of the lock constructed in accordance with the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figs. 8 and 9 particularly adapted for use on the rear doors of a vehicle.

Before explaining in detail the present invention it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and arrangement of parts illustrated in the accompanying drawings, since the invention is capable of other embodiments, and of being practiced or carried out in various Ways. Also it is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employed therein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation.

In the drawings there is illustrated, by way of example, particular embodiments of the present invention as applied to the doors and frame structures of an automobile body. The latch device embodied in the modification of the invention shown in Figs. 1 and 2 comprises a case plate 16 provided with screw bosses 10a by means of which the case plate is secured to the inner side of the jamb portion of a vehicle door. The case plate It) terminates at its inner edge in a flange 11 which is adapted to be positioned along the inner panel of the door. The latch device is preferably provided with a rotatable toothed latch or bolt 12 positioned at the outer side of the case plate 10, this latch or bolt having an integral projecting shaft or shank 13 extending through an aperture in the case plate which is formed with a bearing for the bolt shank. The inner end of the shank 13 of the bolt is flattened and extended through a correspondingly shaped aperture in a rotatable toothed detent engaging member or ratchet 14 and is riveted thereto.

The rotatable latch 12, as shown in dotted outline in Fig. 1, is formed with a number of radially projecting tooth-like projections 12a, preferably six, which are spaced equally around the periphery of the latch so as to provide in effect a gear type latch or bolt. The toothed member 14 is also formed around its periphery with a number of tooth-like abutments or projections 14a which correspond in number to the tooth-like projections 12a of the latch bolt.

Pivotally mounted on a shoulder rivet 15 secured to the case plate is a swinging detent, pawl or dog 16 which has a downwardly projecting detent arm 17 cooperable with any one of the projections 14a of the ratchet member 14. The detent arm 17 is engageable with any one of the projections 14a in the manner shown in Fig. 1 to hold the toothed member and, hence, the bolt 12 in locking position against rotation in a clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 1. The detent 16 is also provided with an upwardly projecting arm or extension 18 and also an inwardly extending arm or extension 19. Thus, the detent in the embodiment herein shown is provided with three arms 17, 18 and 19, and is preferably formed from a piece of flat metal stock.

Associated with the detent 16 is a detent actuating or release lever 20 which is pivoted at its lower end upon the shoulder rivet so as to turn or swing about the axis of the detent 16. The release lever has an outwardly extending arm 21 terminating in a lateral flange 21a positioned for engagement by a plunger or the like 22 which may be shifted inwardly to swing the lever 20 on its pivot 15 by any suitable manually operable means on the outside of the door such, for example, as a handle or by any other preferred means such as a push button associated with an outside door handle. The detent arm 17 is yieldingly urged toward the toothed member 14 and the detent release lever 20 is urged outwardly toward its retracted position shown in Fig. l by means of a common spring 23. This spring has a depending arm engaging the detent arm 17 and has an upper spirally wound coiled portion 23a secured at 24 to the case plate 10. It will be noted that the release lever 20 overlies the detent 16 and has its inner edge abutting against a lug or projection 18a'on the dctent. Hence, the effort exerted by the spring 23 in urging the detent arm 17 into engagement with the ratchet member 14, as shown in Fig. 1, will also be transmitted through the lug 18a to the release lever 20, thereby urging the latter toward its retracted position. The final retracted position of the release lever 20 is determined by a stop 10b in the form of a lug struck up from the upper edge of the case plate 10 and positioned to engage a portion 21b of the release lever arm 21. The lever 24), for a purpose hereinafter described, has an arm or extension 25 projecting in the direction of the case plate flange 11.

Pivoted to the case plate flange 11 by means of a pivot stud or shoulder rivet 26 is a bell crank lever 27 having a depending arm 28, a generally horizontal arm 29 extending in the direction of the case plate It) and of sufficient length to overlie the detent arm 19, and another arm 30 below and spaced from the arm 29 and also extending in the direction of the case plate 10, this latter arm being of suificient length to underlie the detent arm 19 under certain conditions as will be hereinafter explained. The depending arm 28 is pivotally connected at 31 to the inner end of aremote control draft link 32 which extends inside the inner door panel to a point 33 at which it is pivotally connected to the lower end of a crank arm 34 fastened to a shaft 35 on which the inside door handle (not shown) is adapted to be mounted. The shaft 35 is journalled in a bracket plate 36 having screw bosses 36a adapted to receive screws for fastening the plate to the inner door panel. The lever 34 aswell as the remote control link 32 and the bell crank 27 are all urged or yieldingly held in their positions shown in Fig. 2 by means of a leaf spring 37 having a curved portion 37a normally extending into an arcuate notch 38 in the upper end of the lever 34. The leaf spring 37 is attached to the end wall 39a of a cover plate 39 which maintains the spring end 37a in contact with the notched end of the crank arm 34. The cover plate 39 is fastened to the bracket 36 in any suitable manner. Fig. 2 illustrates one prelerable method of attaching the cover plate which comprises providing the bracket 36 withspaced apertures 36b adapted to receive projecting nibs 3% on the edges of the cover plate which are bent over after insertion through the apertures 36]) thus fastening the two members together. v

It will be understood that by turning the lever 34 through the medium of the inner door handle in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 2, the bell crank lever 27 will be rocked about its pivotal axis 26 and the arm 29 will engage and depress the detent arm 19 causing the detent 16 to pivot about its pivotal axis 15 thereby disengaging the detent arm 17 from the ratchet 14. A similar action occurs when the release lever 20 is swung inwardly, as shown in Fig. 1, by operation of the outside door handle, push button or the like, the motion of the release lever being transmitted to the detent through the lug 13a.

In accordance with the present invention means is provided for rendering the detent release lever 20 inoperative to disengage the detent 16, such as by blocking the same so that the door cannot be opened from the outside. This is accomplished through the medium of the bell crank lever arm 29 which may be shifted by operation of the inside door handle into a position in which the end of the arm 29 will lie in abutting relationship to the extension 25 of the release lever 20, as shown by the dotted line position of the arm 29 in Fig. l. The bell crank lever arm 29 is shown in dotted outline in Fig. 1 in its raised or blocking position with respect to the extension 25 of the release lever 20. The end of the arm 29 has a lug 29a turned toward the case plate flange 11 and engageable therewith, as shown in Fig. 1, to prevent bending of the arm 29 under pressure of the release lever 20. Lanced outwardly from the metal of the flange 11 is a lug 40 which Provides a stop engageable by the arm 29, as shown in Fig. 3, to ensure correct positioning of the arm 29 relative to the projection 25 of the release lever 20. The arm 29 is yieldingly held against the stop 40 through the medium of the spring 37, the curved portion 37a of which, shown in dotted outline, in Fig. 2, rests in the outer notch 38a of lever 34 when the arm 29 is in the blocking position.

The upper edge of the crank arm 34 has a convexly curved portion 38b which coacts with the spring 37 to restore the door handle and the bell crank lever 28 to the normal position as shown in Fig. 2 after the handle is actuated in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 2 to cause the lever arm 29 to depress the detent arm 19 thereby disengaging the detent arm 16 from the toothed latch member 14. Thus, the single spring 37 is utilized to restore the handle and the members operatively There is thus provided a means for automatically restoring the parts to their normal or unblocking position, as shown in Fig. 2, if the inside door handle is moved to the blocking position when the door is in open position and the door is then closed. As the door is moved to closed position the rotary latch bolt 12 will be rotated in a counterclockwise direction as seen in Fig. 1, upon engagement with the keeper teeth 61a and 61b of a keeper device 61 fastened to the body pillar 60. Rotation of the rotary bolt 12 will cause a corresponding rotation of the toothed member 14 which will pivotally move the detent and lift the arm 17 of the detent 16 against the resistance of the spring 23. This pivotal motion of the detent will swing the detent arm 1'9 downwardly thereby swinging the arm 30 from its position in Fig. 3 to its position in Fig. 2. This operation will restore the parts of the remote control mechanism to their normal position as shown in Fig. 2 and will also result in swinging the lever arm 29 out of its blocking position with respect to the release lever 20.

Although the latch mechanism of the above described embodiment is designed primarily for use with vehicle doors provided with a key controlled means for locking the handle or push button against movement to release the detent, it will be understood that suitable key controlled means may be incorporated into the latch mechanism for blocking inward movement of the release lever 20 thereby rendering it ineffective to disengage the detent 16 from the ratchet 14.

In the embodiment of Fig. 4 a preferred construction is illustrated for incorporating directly into the latch mechanism a key controlled means for rendering the detent release lever 2'9 inoperative to release or disengage the detent from the ratchet 14. In the present embodiment the case plate and the operative parts of the lock mechanism mounted on the case plate are substantially as described with respect to the embodiment illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2. The case plate flange and the parts of the lock mechanism mounted thereon are modified as will hereinafter be described.

Pivotally mounted on a pivot stud 41 between the modified case plate flange 42 and a bell crank lever 43 is a plural arm or multi-arm lever 44. The bell crank lever 43 in the present embodiment has only two arms and is pivotally mounted on stud 41 in common with the lever 44. One arm 43a of the bell crank lever extends downwardly from the pivotal axis 41 and is suitably connected to a remote control mechanism as was the arm 28 of the bell crank lever 27 described above. The second arm 43b extends in a generally horizontal direction toward the case plate and overlies at its end the detent arm 19 in position to operatively release or disengage the de tent 16 from the ratchet 14. In the previously described embodiment the arm 29 of the bell crank lever 27 performs the same function. However, the arm 29 in that embodiment also can be placed into position to block inward movement of the release lever 20 thus rendering the release lever inoperative to disengage the detent 16 from the ratchet 14. Preferably the only function of the arm 43b in the present embodiment is to depress the detent arm 19 when the remote control handle is actuated to open the door from the inside although, as will hereinafter be explained, it can be utilized for another purpose. I

The plural arm or multi-arm lever 44 has an arm 45 positioned above the pivotal axis 41 and extending in a generally horizontal direction toward the case plate 10. The arm 45 lies above the arm 43b of the bell crank 43 and has a portion 45a embossed outwardly from the case plate flange 42 lying in the plane of movement of the arm 43b. The embossed portion 45a of the arm 45 can be positioned to block inward movement of the release lever 20.

The lever 44 has a second arm 46 which extends downwardly from the pivotal axis and is bifurcated on its 6 end. The bifurcated end of the arm 46 is operatively engaged between the prongs 46a and 46b by an upstanding lug 47a on the end of a swinging crank arm 47. The crank arm 47 is pivoted at 43 to the case plate flange 42 and is provided with a substantially rectangular opening 4? at the locality of its pivot to receive the key actuated shaft of any conventional lock having the usual key control. By turning the key in the lock in the outside of the door the crank arm 47 may be swung to shift the multi-armed lever 44 in one direction or the other either to shift the arm 45 so that the embossed portion 45a thereof will be in opposing relation to the release lever projection 25 or to restore it to its normal position as shown in Fig. 4. An upstanding lug 50 is lanced outwardly from the metal of the flange 42 to provide a stop engageable by the arm 45 to ensure correct positioning of the arm relative to the projection 25 of the release lever 20. The space between the two prongs 46a and 46b of the bifurcated end of the lever arm 46 is substantially greater than the thickness of the upstanding lug 47a, thus providing sufiicient lost motion so that the key after having been used to shift the multi-armed lever in one direction or the other can be returned to a normal position in the key cylinder and extracted therefrom.

in the present embodiment the multi-armed lever 44 may be pivotally moved to place the arm 45 in blocking relation to the release lever 2t) and thence returned to its normal position shown in Fig. 4- by means of a vertically shiftable rod or plunger 52. The lever 44 has a portion 53 projecting in the direction opposite to the direction in which the arm 45 projects. The vertically shiftable rod or plunger is pivotally connected to the projection at 53a and extends upwardly through the garnish molding at the inner side of the glass panel of the vehicle door. This rod 52 carries at its upper end a knob 54 which may be grasped at the inside of the door to shift the plunger vertically in either direction, thereby rocking the lever 44 about its pivotal axis 41 and shifting the arm 45 to position it in blocking relation to the release lever 29 or to restore it to its normal position shown in Fig. 4.

The multi-armed lever 44 is yieldingly held and urged toward its upper and lower limits of movement by means of a snap-over spring 51 of suitable strength attached at one end to the lever and at its opposite end to the case plate flange 42.

The multi-arrned lever 44 is provided with another arm 55 which performs a similar function to the arm 3% of the bell crank lever 27 in the previously described embodiment. The arm 55 is positioned so that its upper edge 55a will immediately underlie the detent arm 19 when the arm 45 of the lever 44 abuts the stop 59 and is in blocking relationship to the release lever 24 The arm 55 provides a means for automatically restoring the parts to their normal or unblocking position, as shown in Fig. 4, if the multi-armed lever 44 is moved to the blocking position, either through the medium of the key operated mechanism or the push button 54 on the garnish molding, when the door is in open position and the door is then closed. As the door is moved to closed position the rotary latch bolt 12 will be rotated in a counterclockwise direction, as seen in Fig. 1, upon engagement with the keeper teeth 61a and 61b of the keeper device 61 fastened to the body pillar. Rotation of the rotary bolt 12 will cause a corresponding rotation of the toothed member 14 which will pivotally move the detent lever arm 17 of the detent 16 against the resistance of the spring 23. As the detent arm 19 swings downwardly as a result of the pivotal movement of the detent it will engage the arm 55 of the multi-armed lever 44 resulting in a counterclockwise movement thereof, as viewed in Fig. 4, and will move the arm 45 out of blocking relation with respect to the release lever 20 and simultaneously restore the push button 54 on the garnish molding to its normal or unlocked position.

The key control means for the multi-arrned lever 44 is usually embodied in the front door locks of an automobile body butis usually omitted from the locks used in the rear doors. It is also possible to eliminate the push button means 54- projecting from the garnish molding for shifting the lever arm 45 into blocking position. When the push button means 54- is included in the lock mechanism the remote control mechanism is limited to pivoting the bell crank lever 43 in one direction only to cause the bell crank lever arm 43b to depress the detent arm 19. However, if a double acting remote control mechanism, as in the embodiment of Fig; 2 is used with the can bodiment of Fig. 4 the push button means 54 can be eliminated. As was stated, the embossed portion 45a of the arm 45 lies in the plane of movement of the arm 43b of the bell crank lever. Thus, if the bell crank lever 43 is actuated by the remote control mechanism so that the arm 43b is swung upwardly from the position shown in Fig. 4 it will engage the arm 45 and raise it upwardly until it engages the stop 50. The embossed portion 45:: of the arm 45 will thus be placed in blocking relationship with the release lever 20. To open the door from the inside it is only necessary to swing the remote control handle in a direction that will resultin the bell crank lever arm 43!: being swung downwardly as seen in Fig. 4. Upon downward movement of the bell crank lever arm 43b it will depress the'detent arm 19 which will in turn engage and depress the multi-armed lever arm 55, thus restoring the parts to their normal or unblocking position as seen in Fig. 4.

Fig. 5 illustrates a modification of the door lock particularly adapted for use on the rear doors or any doors of a vehicle not usually provided with a key cylinder lock actuating mechanism. The embodiment of Fig. 5 differs from the embodiment illustrated in Figs. 1 to 3 inclusive in that the bell crank lever 56 does not have an arm corresponding to the arm 30 of the bell crank lever 27. It does have an arm 56a corresponding in structure and in function to the arm 29 of the bell crank lever 27. The arm 30 is preferably omitted in the embodiment of Fig. 5 where, in connection with rear door locks, it is desirable to be able to place the arm 56a in blocking position when the door is open and to retain the arm in such position after closing the door. This allows the vehicle operator to actuate the remote control mechanism to place the arm 56a into blocking relationship to the projection on the release lever 20 while the does in in an open position as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 5. Thereupon, the operator may close the door without disturbing the blocking position of the arm 56a.

Fig. 7 illustrates a further modification of the lock mechanism wherein there is incorporated directly into the mechanism a key controlled means for rendering the detent release lever 29 inoperative to release or disengage the detent from the ratchet 14-. The bell crank lever 65 of this embodiment with its two arms 66 and 67 extending toward the case plate 10 compares in structure and function to the bell crank lever 27 and its two arms 29 and 30 of the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figs. 1 to 3. The bell crank lever 65, in addition to having the two arms 66 and 67, has a third arm 68 similar in structure and function to the arm 46 of the multi-armed lever 44 of the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Fig. 4.

In the embodiment of Fig. 7 the arm 66 of the bell crank lever 65 is movable upwardly into abutting relation to the stop and thus in position to block inward movement of the release lever 20. This movement results from actuation of the crank arm 47 upon turning movement of a key in a key cylinder mechanism or from actuation of a remote control handle (not shown) operatively connected to the remote control draft link 32. The remote control mechanism of the present embodiment differs from that shown in the embodiment of Figs. 1 to 3 in that crank arm 69 and a spring '70 is substituted for the crank arm 34 and spring 37. The spring 70, as seen in Fig. 7,

- associated with the outside door handle.

is positioned so that it will restore the remote control mechanism to its normal position after having been actuated to open the door. A snap-over spring 51 having one end fastened to the case plate flange 11 and its other end fastened to the bell crank lever 65 has the function of maintaining the arm 66 in abutting relation to the stop 40.

The embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figs. 8 and 9 is similar in many respects to the embodiment illustrated in Fig; 4. The embodiment of Fig. 4 is con strueted to accommodate a vehicle door of the type in which the key cylinder locking mechanism is spaced below the door handle or push button. The embodiment of Figs. 8 and 9 is constructed to accommodate a vehicle door of the type in which the key cylinder mechanism is concentrically mounted within the push button or is associated with the outside handle.

As in the previously described embodiments, the lock mechanism in the embodiment of Figs. 8 and 9 comprises a case plate provided with screw bosses 80a by means of which the case plate is secured to the inner side of the jamb portion of the door. The case plate terminates at its inner edge on the flange 81. As in the other embodiments, a rotatable toothed latch or bolt 82 having a shank or shaft 83 is positioned at the outer face of the case plate 80 with the shaft 83 projecting therethrough, the shaft 83 forming the mounting for the rotatable toothed detent engaging member or ratchet member 84 which is riveted thereto.

Pivotally mounted on a shoulder rivet 85 secured to the case plate 80 is a swinging detent, pawl, or dog 86 which has a downwardly extending detent arm 87 co-' operable with the teeth or projections 84:: of the ratchet member 84. The detent arm is engageable with any one of the teeth 84a to hold the ratchet member and, hence, the bolt 82 in locking position against rotation in a clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 8. The detent 86 has an upwardly extending arm or extension 88 terminating in a laterally extending lug or projection 88a. The detent is also provided with an inwardly extending arm 89 for a hereinafter explained purpose.

Associated with the detent 86 is a detent actuating or release lever 90 which is pivoted at its lower end upon the shoulder rivet 85 so as to swing or turn about the axis of the detent 86. The release lever 90 has an outwardly extending arm 91 terminating in a lateral flange 91a positioned for engagement by a plunger or the like 92 which may be shifted inwardly to swing the lever 90 on its pivot 85 by any suitable manually operable means on the outside of the door such, for example, as a handle or by any other preferred means such as a push button The detent arm 87 is yieldingly urged toward the caseplate flange 81 and the detent release lever 90 is urged outwardly to- I ward its retracted position shown in Fig. 8 by means of lug 83a to the release lever 90, thereby urging the latter toward its retracted position. The release lever 90, for a purpose hereinafter described, has a projection 95 extending inwardly from the arm 91 of the release lever toward the case plate flange.

As in the previous embodiments, the embodiment of Figs. 8 and 9 preferably incorporates a remote control mechanism for permitting release or disengagement of the detent 86 by operation of an inside door handle or other manually operable means. As in the previously described embodiments, the inside handle is suitably connected to a longitudinally extending draft link 32 which is pivoted at 3-1 to the lower end of one arm 43a by a bell crank lever 43. This lever is pivoted at 41 to the case plate flange 81 and is provided with a projecting lever arm 43b overlying at its outer end the detent arm 89. Normally, when the inside door handle is turned so as to swing the lever 43b downwardly, the latter by engagement with the detent arm 89 will swing the detent 86 in a clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 8, thus disengaging the detent arm 87 from the ratchet member 84. Similar action occurs when the release iever 9G is swung inwardly by operation of the outside door handle, push button or the like, the motion of the release lever being transmitted to the detent through the lug 88a.

In the present embodiment means is provided for rendering the detent release lever 90 inoperative to disengage the detent 86, such as by blocking the same so that the door cannot be opened from the outside. This is accomplished through the medium of a plural arm or multiarm lever 97 which is functionally similar to the plural arm or multi-arm lever 44 of the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Fig. 4. The multi-armed lever 97 has an arm 93 positioned above the pivotal axis 41 extending in a generally horizontal direction toward the case plate 80. The arm 98 lies above the arm 43b of the bell crank 43 and has a portion 98a embossed outwardly away from the case plate flange 81 and lying in the plane of movement of the arm 43b. The embossed portion 93a of the arm 98 when properly positioned will lie in abutting relationship to the extension 95 of the release lever 90, as shown by the dotted line position of the arm 98 in Fig. 8. The end of the arm 98 has a lug 98b turned toward the case plate flange 81 and engageable therewith, as shown in Fig. 8, to prevent bending of the embossed portion 98a of the arm 98 under pressure of the release lever 90.

The lever 97 has a second arm 99 which extends upwardly from the pivotal axis. The arm 99 is bifurcated on its end as was the downwardly extending arm 46 of the multi-armed lever 44 shown in Fig. 4 and is operatively engaged by an upstanding lug 47a on the end of a swing ing crank arm 47. The crank arm 47 is pivoted at 100 to the case plate flange 81 and is provided with a substantially rectangular opening 101 at the locality of its pivot to receive the key actuated shaft 102 of any conventional lock having the usual key control. Since the present embodiment is constructed to accommodate a vehicle door of the type having a locking cylinder mechanism mounted within the handle push button the flange 91a is suitably apertured as at 92 to permit the key actuated shaft to pass freely through the flange and be connected to the crank arm 47.

The multi-armed lever arm 97 is provided with another arm 103 which performs the same function in the present embodiment of the invention as the arm 55 of the embodiment in Fig. 4. The arm 103 is positioned so that its upper edge 103a will immediately underlie the detent arm 89 when the arm 98 of the lever 97 is in blocking relationship to the release lever 90, thus providing a means for automatically restoring the parts to their normal or unblocking position, as shown in Fig. 9, when the multi-armed lever 97 has been moved to the blocking position with the door in its open position and the door is then closed. In the present embodiment it is preferred that the multi-armed lever be moved into blocking position with respect to the release lever 90 through actuation of the remote control handle. Since the embossed portion 98a of the arm 98 lies in the plane of movement of the arm 43b ofthe bell crank lever 43, movement of the arm 43b upwardly from the position shown in Fig. 9 will cause that arm to abut the arm 98 and move it upwardly into blocking position. To open the door from the inside it is only necessary to swing the remote control handle in a direction that will result in the hell "crank lever arm 43b being swung downwardly as seen in Fig. 9. Upon downward movement the bell crank lever arm 4312 will engage and depress the detent arm 89 which in turn Will engage and depress the multi-armed lever arm 103, thus restoring the parts to their normal or unblocking position as seen in Fig. 9.

The multi-armed lever 97 is yieldingly'held and urged toward its upper and lower limits of movement by means of a snap-over spring 104 of suitable strength attached at one end to the lever and at its opposite end to the case plate flange 81.

Suitable stops, generally in the form of lugs lanced outwardly from the case plate metal, are provided where deemed necessary. One such stop 105 is lanced outwardly from the case plate flange in position to engage the outer edge of the release lever arm 91 thus limiting movement of the release lever arm toward its retracted position. A second lug 106 is lanced outwardly from the case plate flange metal in a position to engage the lower edge of the multi-armed lever arm 103 thus determining the lower limit of movement of the multi-armed lever 97. No stop is provided for determining the upper limit of movement of the multi-armed lever 97 since the arm 103 will upon such upward movement engage the under edge of the detent arm 89 thus preventing any further upward movement.

The embodiment of the invention in Fig. 10 illustrates a preferred construction for adapting the lock structure shown in the embodiment of Figs. 8 and 9 for use on vehicle doors, usually the rear doors, not equipped with key actuated means for locking the door.

In the embodiment of Fig. 10 the plural arm lever 110 has an arm 111 having an embossed portion 111a thereon. The embossed portion 111a of the arm 111 lies in the plane of movement of the bell crank lever arm 43b and is shiftable into blocking position with respect to the release lever upon actuation of the remote control mechanism handle. The lever arm lltlhas no bifurcated arm corresponding to the arm 99 of the lever 97 of the embodiment of Figs. 8 and 9 since no key actuated mechanism is provided. Thus, the lever and the arm 111 are shiftable into blocking position only by means of the remote control mechanism.

The lever 110 has a lower arm 112 extending in a generally horizontal direction toward the case plate 80 as does the arm 103 of the lever 97 shown in Fig. 9. The arm 112 is shorter than the arm 103 and will not underlie the detent arm 89 when the blocking arm 111 is in position to block inward movement of the release lever 90. Thus, if the blocking arm 111 is moved to blocking position when the door is opened, pivotal movement of the detent 89 during closing movement of the door will be inetfectual to restore the blocking arm to non-blocking position as happened in the embodiment of Figs. 8 and 9.

The arm 112 of the lever 110 has an upstanding lug 113 adapted to underlie the lower edge of the bell crank lever arm 43b when the arm 111 is in upper or blocking position. If the remote control mechanism is actuated to depress the bell crank lever arm 43b to depress the detent arm 89 to disengage the detent 86 from the ratchet 84, the bell crank lever arm 43b will also engage the lug 113 and swing the lever 110 in a direction to restore the arm 111 to normal or non-blocking position. The snapover spring 104 is provided to urge the lever 110 to its upper and lower limits of movement.

In the several embodiments of the invention herein illustrated the rotary toothed latch 12 is actuated when the door is closed by means of a striker or keeper device which is rigidly mounted on the jamb edge 60 of the body pillar or fixed upright member of the door slide and is secured to the pillar by means of screws 62. As illustrated in Fig. 6 the striker device 61 is formed at its lower edge with two integral tooth-like projections 61a and 61b 11 withwhich the teeth 12a of the latch bolt 12 meshto hold the door in either a final or safety locking position. When an adjacent pair of teeth 12a embrace and engage the tooth 61a the door is in safety locking positlon, and when an adjacent pair of teeth engage the tooth 61b of the striker member, the bolt is in final locking 7 position.

Cooperable with the upper inclined surface 61c of the striker body 61 is a guide shoe 63 which is secured to the case plate of the lock mechanism. It will be understood that When the door is closed the shoe 63 engages and slides over the inclined surface 610 of the striker body and cooperates with the latch bolt 12 to clamp or hold the door firmly in position against vertical movement during operation of the vehicle.

I claim:

1. In a door latch mechanism having a support formed with a plate portion for disposition at the door jamb and a flange portion extending angularly from said plate portion, a latch device pivotally mounted on said plate portion and having tooth-like abutments, a detent release member pivotally mounted on said plate portion, detent means having a pivotal mounting on said plate portion to provide for swinging movement of the detent means independently of said release member, said detent means being engageable with one of said abutments at one side of its pivotal axis for holding the latch device in door latching position and said release member having a portion at the opposite side of said pivotal axis engageable by outer manually operable means to swing the release member in one rotative direction, said release member having a part engageable with said detent means at said opposite side of said pivotal axis upon swinging motion of the release member in said rotative direction thereby to swing said detent means in the same rotative direction out of holding position with respect to said latch device, the improvement in combination with said latch mechanism which comprises a blocking portion on said release member, lever means pivotally mounted on said flange portion and including an arm disposed in all positions thereof out of operating engagement by said detent means upon pivotal actuation of the latter, said arm having a blocking portion swingable toward and from said first named blocking portion, and inner manually operable means cooperable with said blocking lever means for swinging said arm to dispose said second named blocking portion in opposing relation to said first named blocking portion thereby to block said release member and render the same ineffective to move said detent means out of holding position with respect to said latch device.

2. In a door latch mechanism having a support formed with a plate portion for disposition at the door jamb and a flange portion extending angularly from said plate portion, a latch device pivotally mounted on said plate portion and having tooth-like abutments, a detent release member pivotally mounted on said plate portion, detent means having a pivotal mounting on said plate portion to provide for swinging movement of the detent means independently of said release member, said detent means being engageable with one of said abutments at one side of its pivotal axis for holding the latch device in door latching position and said release member having a portion at the opposite side of said pivotal axis engageable by outer manually operable means to swing the release member in one rotative direction, said release member having a part engageable with said detent means at said opposite side of said pivotal axis upon swinging motion of the release member in said rotative direction thereby to swing said detent means in the same rotative direction out of holding position with respect to said latch device, the improvement in combination with said latch mechanism which comprises a blocking portion on said release member, lever means pivotally mounted on said flange portion and including an arm having a blocking portion swingable upwardly and downwardly relative to said first named blocking portion, and inner manually operable means for swinging said arm upwardly to dispose its said blocking portion in opposing relation to said first named blocking portion thereby to block detent release movement of said release member.

3. In a door latch mechanism having a support formed with a plate portion for disposition at the door jamb and a flange portion extending angularly from said plate portion, a latch device pivotally mounted on said plate portion and having tooth-like abutments, a detent release member pivotally mounted on said plate portion, detent means having a pivotal mounting on said plate portion to provide for swinging movement of the detent means independently of said release member, said detent means being engageable with one of said abutments at one side of its pivotal axis for holding the latch device in door latching position and said release member having a portion at the opposite side of said pivotal axis engageable by outer manually operable means to swing the release member in one rotative direction, said release member having a part engageable with said detent means at said opposite side of said pivotal axis upon swinging motion of the release member in said rotative direction thereby to swing said detent means in the same rotative direction out of holding position with respect to said latch device, the improvement in combination with said latch mechanism which comprises a blocking portion on said release member, lever means pivotally mounted on said support and including an arm having a blocking portion swingable upwardly and downwardly relative to said first named blocking portion, and inner manually operable means for swinging said arm upwardly to dispose its said blocking portion in opposing relation to said first named blocking portion thereby to block detent release movement of said release member, said lever means also including a member extending beneath a part of said detent means and engageable thereby to swing said arm downwardly out of blocking position with respect to said blocking portion of the release lever.

4. In a door latch mechanism having a support formed with a plate portion for disposition at the door jamb and a flange portion extending angularly from said plate portion, a latch device pivotally mounted on said plate portion and having tooth-like abutments, a detent release member pivotally mounted on said plate portion, detent means having a pivotal mounting on said plate portion to provide for swinging movement of the detent means independently of said release member, said detent means being engageable with one of said abutments at one side of its pivotal axis for holding the latch device in door latching position and said release member having a portion at the opposite side of said pivotal axis engageable by outer manually operable means to swing the release member in one rotative direction, said release member having a part engageable with said detent means at said opposite side of said pivotal axis upon swinging motion of the release member in said rotative direction thereby to swing said detent means in the same rotative direction out of holding position with respect to said latch device, the improvement in combination with said latch mechanism which comprises a blocking portion on said release member, lever means pivotally mounted on said support and including an arm disposed in all positions thereof out of operating engagement by said detent means upon pivotal actuation of the latter, said arm having a blocking portion swingable toward and from said first named blocking portion, and inner manually operable means cooperable with said lever means for swinging said arm to dispose said second named blocking portion in opposing relation to said first named blocking portion thereby to block said release member and render the same ineffective to move said detent means out of bolding position with respect to said latch device, said lever 13 means also including a member extending beneath apart of said detent means and engageable thereby to swing said arm out of blocking position with respect to said release member.

5. In a latch mechanism for a swinging door, a support having a plate portion for disposition at the door jamb, a rotatable latch device mounted on said plate portion, a lever pivotally mounted on said plate portion, a blocking portion on said lever, :outer manually operable means for swinging said lever, detent means engageable with said latch device for holding it in door latching position, said detent means being pivotally mounted on said plate portion to swing independently of said lever, said lever at one side of the pivotal axis thereof having a part arranged in opposing relation to a partof said detent means to abut the same at the same side of the pivotal axes of said lever and detent means upon swinging movement of said lever in one rotative direction thereby to pivotally move said detent means in the same rotative direction out of holding position with respect to said latch device, a swingable member on said support having a part movable in a substantially up and down direction, said part having blocking means for cooperation with said blocking portion, inner manually operable means for moving said swingable member to disposesaid blocking means in position to be engaged by said blocking portion thereby to block said lever and render the same ineflective to move said detent means out of holding position with respect to said latch device, said detent means having a second part disposed for actuation of'said swingable member and said swingable member having a second part movable into opposing relation to said detent means second part when said member is disposed in said blocking position, said detent means being pivotally movable out of holding relation to said latch device independently of actuation thereof by said outer manually operable means to cause its said second part "to engage said member second part and thereby shift said blocking means but of blocking position with respect to said blocking portion.

6. In a latch mechanism 'for a swinging door, a support having a plate portion for disposition at the door jamb, a rotatable latch device mounted on said plate portion, a lever pivotally mounted 'on said plate portion, a blocking portion on said lever, outer manually operable means for swinging said lever, detent means engageable with said latch device for holding it in door latching position, said detent means being pivotally mounted on said plate portion to swing independently of said lever about a common pivot axis therewith, said lever having a part arranged in opposing relation to a part of said detent means to abut the same upon swinging movement of said lever thereby to pivotally move said detent means out of holding position with respect to said latch device, a swingable member mounted on said support having a part movable in a substantially up and down direction, said part having blocking means for cooperation with said blocking portion, inner manually operable means for moving said swingable member to dispose said blocking means in position to be engaged by said blocking portion thereby to block said lever and render the same ineffective to move said detent means out of holding position with respect to said latch device, said detent means having a second part disposed for actuation of said swingable member and said swingable member having a second part movable into opposing relation to said detent means second part when said member is disposed in said blocking position, said detent means being pivotally movable out of holding relation to said latch device independently of actuation thereof by said outer manually operable means to cause its said second part to engage said member second part and thereby shift said blocking means out of blocking position with respect to said blocking portion.

7. In a latch mechanism for a swinging door having a support provided with a plate portion for disposition at the free edge wall of the door and a flange extending from 14 the inner edge thereof, a latch device pivotally mounted on said plate portion having a peripheral'series of toothlike abutments, a detent member pivotally mounted on said plate portion and engageable successively with said abutments for holding said latch device in door latching position, outer manually operable means including a lever pivotally mounted on said plate portion for pivotally actuating said detent member thereby to disengage the latter from said latch device, said lever having a part arranged in opposing relation to a part of said detent member to abut the same upon swinging movement of said lever thereby to pivotally move said detent member out of holding position with respect to said latch device, said lever and detent member having a common pivot axis, a blocking lever pivotally mounted on the support, inner manually operable means for swinging said blocking lever into a blocking position in which a portion thereof will block pivotal movement of said lever thereby to render said outer manually operable means ineffective to efiect disengagement of said detent member, said detent member having a part disposed for actuation of said blocking lever and said blocking lever having a part movable into opposing relation to said detent member part when said blocking lever is disposed in said blocking position, said detent member being pivotally movable out of holding relation to said latch device independently of actuation thereof by said outer manually operable means to cause its said part to engage said blocking lever part and thereby shift said blocking lever out of said blocking position.

8. In a latch mechanism for a swinging door having a support provided with a plate portion for disposition at the free edge wall of the door and a flange extending from the inner edge thereof, a latch device pivotally mounted on said plate portion having a plurality of tooth-like abutments, a detent member pivotally mounted on said plate portion and engageable with one of said abutments for holding said latch device in door latching position, outer manually operable means including a lever pivotally mounted on said plate portion for pivotally actuating said detent member thereby to disengage the latter from said latch device, a blocking lever pivotally mounted on the support, inner manually operable means for swinging said blocking lever into a blocking position in which a portion thereof will block pivotal movement of said lever thereby to render said outer manually operable means ineffective to effect disengagement of said detent member, said detent member having a part disposed for actuation of said blocking lever and said blocking lever having a part movable unobstructedly into opposing relation to said detent member part when said blocking lever is disposed in said blocking position, said detent member being pivotally movable out of holding relation to said latch device independently of actuation thereof by said outer manually operable means to cause its said part to engage said blocking lever part and thereby shift said blocking lever out of said blocking position.

9. In a latch mechanism for a swinging door having a support provided with a plate portion for disposition at the free edge wall of the door and a flange extending from the inner edge thereof, a latch device pivotally mounted on said plate portion having a plurality of tooth-like abutments, a detent member pivotally mounted on said plate portion and engageable with one of said abutments for holding said latch device in door latching position, outer manually operable means including a lever pivotally mounted on said plate portion for pivotally actuating said detent member thereby to disengage the latter from said latch device, said lever having a part arranged in opposing relation to a part of said detent member to abut the same upon swinging movement of said lever thereby to pivotally move said detent member out of holding position with respect to said latch device, said lever and detent member having a common pivot axis, a blocking lever pivotally mounted on the support flange, inner manually operable means for swinging said blocking lever into a blocking position in which a portion thereof will block pivotal movement of said lever thereby to render said outer manually operable means ineffective to effect disengagement of said detent member, actuating means operatively controlled by said detent member for actuation of said blocking lever, and an operable member operatively controlled by said blocking lever for movement into opposing relation to said actuating means when said blocking lever is disposed in said blocking position, said detent member being pivotally movable out of holding relation to said latch device independently of actuation thereof by said outer manually operable means to cause said actuating means to engage said operable member and thereby shift said blocking lever out of said blocking position.

10. In a latch mechanism for a swinging door having a support provided with a plate portion for disposition at the free edge wall of the door and a flange extending from the inner edge thereof, a latch device pivotally mounted on said plate portion having a plurality of tooth-like abutments, a detent member pivotally mounted on said plate portion and engageable with one of said abutments for holding said latch device in door latching position, outer manually operable means including a lever pivotally mounted on said plate portion for pivotally actuating said detent member thereby to disengage the latter from said latch device, a blocking lever pivotally mounted on the support, inner manually operable means for swinging said blocking lever into a blocking position in which a portion thereof will block pivotal movement of said lever thereby to render said outer manually operable means ineffective to effect disengagement of said detent member, actuating means operatively controlled by said detent member for actuation of said blocking lever, and an operable member operatively controlled by said blocking lever for movement unobstructedly into opposing relation to said actuating means when said blocking lever is disposed in said blocking position, said detent member being pivotally movable out of holding relation to said latch device independently of actuation thereof by said outer manually operable means to cause said actuating means to engage said operable member and thereby shift said blocking lever out of said blocking position.

11. In a latch mechanism'for a swinging door having a supportprovided with a plate portion for disposition at the free edge wall of the door and a flange extending from the inner edge thereof, a latch device pivotally mounted on said plate portion having a plurality of tooth-like abutments, a detent member pivotally mounted on said plate portion and engageable with one of said abutments for holding said latch device in door latching position, outer manually operable means including a lever pivotally mounted on said plate portion for pivotally actuating said detent member thereby to disengage the latter from said latch device, a blocking lever pivotally mounted on the support, inner manually operable means including overcenter spring means for swinging said blocking lever into a blocking position in which a portion thereof will block pivotal movement of said lever thereby to render said outer manually operable means ineffective to effect disengagement of said detent member, actuating means operatively controlled by said detent member for actuation of said blocking lever, and an operable member operatively controlled by said blocking lever for movement unobstructedly into opposing relation to said actuating means when said blocking lever is disposed in said blocking position, said detent member being pivotally movable out of holding relation to said latch device independently of actuation thereof by said outer manually operable means to cause said actuating means to engage said operable member thereby moving said blocking lever toward its unblocking position whereby said over-center spring means is permitted to complete the movement of said blocking lever into its unblocking position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,259,670 Van Voorhees Oct. 21, 1941 2,270,559 Rolph et al. Jan. 20, 1942 2,301,221 Marple Nov. 10, 1942 2,362,256 Endter Nov. 7, 1944 2,557,468 Roethel June 19, 1951 2,569,045 Endter Sept. 25, 1951 2,581,838 Dingman Jan. 8, 1952 2,604,345 Roethel July 22, 1952 2,680,037 Marple June 1, 1954 

